Hillsborough County, FL Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Overgrowth trigger
- over 24 inches tall
- Applies to
- vacant/unoccupied property
- Effect
- immediate abatement allowed
- Cost recovery
- billed to owner, can lien
Summary
Hillsborough County treats overgrowth exceeding 24 inches on abandoned or vacant land as an 'imminent health threat,' letting Code Enforcement abate it immediately without standard notice delays.
Imminent health threat means one of the following public nuisance conditions: an unsecured structure, an unsecured swimming pool, overgrowth exceeding 24 inches in height, or any public nuisance within a one-mile radius of a school, park, public playground or bus stop, which, in the reasonable judgment of the Code Enforcement Department Director, represents an imminent risk of causing injury or disease to humans. An imminent health threat may also mean any other public nuisance, as defined herein, which under the circumstances presented and in the reasonable judgment of the Code Enforcement Depart- ment Director, represents an imminent risk of causing injury or disease to humans.
Notice of abatement and costs means a notice to the property owner(s) of an abandoned real property of the abatement of an imminent health threat, and the costs and expenses due for such abatement.
Notice to abate means a notice to the property owner(s) of an abandoned real property requiring abatement of a public nuisance, as provided in this article.
Property means any real property, or portion thereof, located in unincorporated Hillsbor- ough County, including buildings or structures situated on the property. For purposes of this Ordinance only, property does not include property owned or subject to the control of the County or any of its governmental bodies.
Supp. No. 12 CD8:48 BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS § 8-173
Full Breakdown
Under the Property Preservation Program, Section 8-172 defines an 'imminent health threat' on abandoned real property to include overgrowth exceeding 24 inches, an unsecured structure, or an unsecured pool. Section 8-173 makes maintaining a public nuisance on abandoned real property unlawful, and once a condition is classified as an imminent health threat the County can skip the standard notice-and-cure period used for ordinary violations.
Violations & Fines
Hillsborough County Code Enforcement Department may abate the nuisance directly and charge the property owner the costs, which can become a lien on the property under Section 8-184.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as 'abandoned real property' here?
Does the County have to warn the owner first?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hillsborough County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Hillsborough County to another location·View the Florida property maintenance overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.